Carmen Marc Valvo is a quintessential American designer who, since 1989, has been exploring his soul's desire to bring glamorous dressing to every woman's life. Although his sumptuous creations have made him a favorite among Hollywood's top leading ladies including Beyoncé, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Lucy Liu, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Cattrall, Queen Latifah, Radha Mitchell and Vanessa Williams, it's his devotion to his non-celebrity clients that have made him a star. TIME Magazine stood up and took notice of Carmen after his Fall 2005 collection in a feature story saying "While other designers seek to shock, Valvo's creations shine in the marketplace."

Valvo grew up in a traditional Spanish/Italian family in Westchester County, New York. His artistic spirit revealed itself early on, when he developed a passion for oil painting and crafted opulent medieval costumes for his sister for a school project. But it wouldn't be until much later that he would even consider becoming a designer. "I honestly didn't think it was a real profession," he admits.

His father worked as an anesthesiologist and his mother as a nurse, so it is not surprising that they hoped he would one day join the medical profession, specifically as a plastic surgeon. But after volunteering to work a few sessions in the ER, he turned, instead, to a degree in Fine Arts at Manhattanville College. After spending a few years traveling in Europe — exploring the rich cultural tapestry and becoming proficient in several languages — A car accident would force Valvo to return to the United States but allowed him to set his sites on a career in fashion. After his recovery, he enrolled at Parsons School of Design in New York.

Valvo's professional career began as a ready to wear designer for Nina Ricci in Paris, followed by a stint at Christian Dior. But by 1989 he was ready to launch his own label. With only a few thousand dollars, Valvo fearlessly pulled together a collection to show to department and specialty stores at the Fall market in New York. His sportswear was an instant success and was bought into several top stores, but it was his eveningwear, his true passion, that captured the hearts of buyers at both Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.

Having established a solid reputation with his Collection line, Valvo launched Carmen Marc Valvo Couture in 1998, in response to overwhelming demand from his celebrity and VIP clients, who wanted original Carmen Marc Valvo creations that would set them apart from the fashion pack. The Couture collection is presented twice a year during the New York Fashion Week. These lavish presentations highlight the extraordinary craftsmanship and painstaking hand-detailing that place the Couture collection in a league of its own. The world of Carmen Marc Valvo also includes a sportswear collection, a new suit collection, custom furs, shoes, limited-edition jewelry designs with VIVID Collection, and a highly anticipated new swimwear line.

And while Valvo's parents may have been on the right track when they imagined their son making women more beautiful (albeit through a career in plastic surgery), they could have hardly imagined he would realize this dream with a needle and thread rather than a scalpel. But it is Valvo's superb tailoring, understanding of fit issues and masterful detailing that have distinguished him from his peers. Women's Wear Daily perhaps said it best "Over the years, the designer has demonstrated the talent to do it all."